Razor-sharpening device.



J. J. MEEHAN.

, RAZOR SHARPENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1908.

42973 l n Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET `1.

J. J. MBEHAN.

RAZOR SHARPENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYz, 1908.

Patented Deo. 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT cerros.

.ToHN J. MEEHAN, oF DENVER, coLonADo.

RAZOR-SHARPENING DEVICE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

'Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

Appliation' inea July a, 190s. serial 110-441,53?.

'form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for sharpening razors,my object being to provide a device of this class which shall bespecially adapted for use in sharpening double edged blades of theGillette or other similar types.

My improved construction includes a casing in which isv journaled larock shaft or spindle, around which the flexible stropping devicepasses. Also journaled. in this casing is a second rock spindle whichforms a holder for the razor blade. The two rock spindles are connectedon the outside of the casing in such a manner that when the spindlewhich is acted upon by the strop, iis actuated by a pull of the strop inone direction, a corresponding movement is imparted to theI spindlecarrying the blade to be sharpened, thus bringing the opposite edge ofthe blade into operative engagement with the strop for sharpeningpurposes. Provision is also made for normally'retaining theblade-carrying spindle in a position whereby both of its edges are outof contact with the runs of the stropping device, thus obviatingthepossibility of cutting the latter while reversing its runningmovement.

Having briefly outlined my improved con-v struction, I will proceed todescribe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanyingdranJing in which is illus- .trated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved device. Fig.2 is a side view of the same looking inthe direction of arrowv2, Fig. 1.Fig 3 is a sectional plan view of the device cutting the casing and thestrop, the two spindles also being shown partly in section. Fig. 4 is avs ection taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthearrow. Fig. 5

is a section taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 1,Y

the parts beingl shown on a lar er scale. Fig. 6 is a side view, similarto ig. 2, vthe parts, however, being shown lon a larger scale and indifferent relative positions.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the split sleeve for receiving theblade-holding spindle. Fig. 8 is a view of the same looking in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail view of theblade-carrying spindle. Fig. 10 is a similar view with the blade inplace, the spindle being shown on a smaller scale. Fig. 11 is a similarView showing a slightly modified form of the blade. Fig. 12 is a detailview of the spring for normally retaining the blade in an intermediateposition, and parallel, or approximately so, Y

with the two runs Aof the strop.

The same referencev characters the same parts in all the -views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a casing indica-te provided with u per andlower separatedv walls 6, whose a jacent extremities'are connected byside walls 7 land 8. Journaled in these side walls near one end of thecasing is a rock spindle or roller 9 havin one extremity solid, as shownat 10, to faci itate the fastening of a crank arm 12 by means of a screw13. This arm l2 is provided with a pin 14 which passesV through a slot15 formed in one extremity of an arm 16 secured to one end of a spindle17 by a screw 18. This spindle is journaled inv the opposite side walls7 and 8 of the casing, and is split von opposite sides, as shown at 19,to

receive the protruding portions ofthe razor blade 20, when the latter ismounted upon its holding pin 21, the said pin being inserted in thehollow spindle as indicated in the assembled views. This blade-holder,as shown in the drawing is flattened on one side, as shown at 22, andlfrom this flat side protrude removable. studs 23, adapted to pass throuh openings 24 formed in the blade 20. y making the studs 23 removableand providing the holder 21 with a series of threaded yrecesses 25, theposition of the studs may be changed to cause them to pass throughopenings formed in blades of different manufacture. Moreover, thesestuds may be placed at o posite extremities of the blade (see Fig. 11i),the blade infthis event being provided with V-shaped recesses 26.` Oneextremity of the bladeholder 21 is provided with a milled head 27 whichprotrudes from the casing on one side. This protruding head facilitatesthe casing, as aforesaid.

Athe said spindle. This blade is engaged on removal and insertion of theblade-holder in the hollow spindle 17 journaled in the -The hollowspindle 17 is provided at one extremity with a lip 28, which projectsoutwardly therefrom, occupying :t position beyond the adjacent extremityof the razor blade when the blade-holder is inserted in opposite sidesby the laterally projecting extremities 29 of a coil spring 30, thelatter being mounted upon and made fast to a screw pin 31, secured toone side of the casing. The coil must be locked upon the screw pin bysolder, or otherwise, to prevent it from turning bodily thereon. In thisevent the opposite opposing arms 29 of the spring are both undertension, and iftheir movement .were not arrested by the pin 28, theywould occupy a crossed position. Hence,v when the spindle 17 is turnedin one direction, the movement-of the pin 28 is resisted by the tensionof one of the spring arms 29; and hence, as soon as the power acting toturn the spindle ceases to act, the spring arm returns the spindle to;its normal position. This happens regardless of the direction of thespindles turning movement. j

Journaled in the extremity of the casing remote from the rock spindle9,.is a roller 32 which' engages the opposite runs of the iexible strop33, and forms a guide to keep the runs of the strop separated andwhereby these runs are maintained in parallel, or approximatelyparallel, relation.

Assumin that the parts are assembled, substantial y as indicated inFigs. 1 and 2, and it is desired to sharpen a blade 20, the latter isapplied to the holder 21, after which this holder is inserted in thespindle 17, the blade protruding through the slots formed in the blade,as heretofore explained, and as illust-rated in Figs. 3 and 4. I willalso assume that the flexible strop 33 is aplied totheinstrument, asshown in the drawingand also that one end of the casing is equipped withholding means, as chains 34, whlch are connected with the casing by rins 35 and with each other by a ring 36. ow, if these chains are passedaround a hook, vor other stationary object of suiiicient stabilityY toresist the pull upon the stro the latter may be moved backv and fort byalternately pulling upon its opposite extremities. en the strop ispulled in one direction, the operating spindleis given a, artial rotarymovement which, through t e medium of the crank arms 12 and 15,communicates a similar movement but in theopposite direction to thespindle 17 carrying the blade-holder'2l whereby a corresponding movementis im arted to the blade, throwing its opposite e ges into contact withthe opposite runs of the strop for sharpening purposes; then, as themovement of the strop is reversed, the'two rock spindles are actuated indirections the reverse of -their previous movement, thus bringing theopposite edges of the blade into contact with the opposite runs of the;strop, whereby both sides of each edge are brought into a. sharpeningengagement with the ,.strop. This operation is continued until the bladeis sharpened. As soon as the actuating pull upon the strop ceases toact,A the blade-` holder together with the spindle in which it islocated, is automatically thrown by the spring 30 to the centralposition whereby the blade occupies a position parallel, or ap-Aproximately parallel, with the two runs of the strop. This prevents thecutting of the strop when its movement is reversed,'before the edges ofthe blade have time to change their position.

In order to facilitate the removal and insertion of a blade, the casingis provided at one end with an elongated opening 40, which is enlargedat the center to receivethe hollow spindle 17. This slot 4 0 permits thein troduction of the blade-holding pin, or spindle 21, with a blade inposition, as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. This makes it practicableto quickly introduce va blade for sharpening purposes and remove itafter itk has been sharpened, and is'therefore con-` in the last namedspindle which is hollow,

the'opposite edges of a double edged blade protruding through the, slotsin the spindle, substantially as described. j j

, ,2. A. razor Sharpener comprising a casing,

a spindlejournaled in the casing, a razor strop passing around andengaging thespimf dle in operative relation, a -second spindle journaledin the casing to receive a double edged blade; means for normallyretaining the second spindle in a predetermined position, and anoperative connection between the journal of the first named spindle andthat of the blade-holding spindle, whereby as the strop is moved backand forth over the first named spindle, the blade is actuated forsharpening purposes.

3 .1A razor Sharpener comprising a casing, two rock spindles journaledin theopposite sides of the casing, a holder adapted to receive a doubleedged blade, the said bladeholder bein inserted in the one Ispindlewhich is ho leu* lfor the purpose, thelast named spindle lbeing slottedon opposite sides'to'allow the opposite edges of the blade to protrude,an operative connection between the two spindles, a flexible stropadapted to engage the 4other spindle, and a spring for normallyretaining the bladecarryln spindle in such position that the blade willbe parallel, or approximately parallel, with the runs of the strop,substantially as described.

4. The combination with-'a casing, of -a rock spindle journaled in thecasing, a flexible strop engaging the said spindle, a secondspindle'slotted on opposite sidesand adapted .to receive a double edgedblade, the last, named spindle being provided l with a lip, springsengaging the lip on opposite sides and normally holding the secondspindle in 'such position that the blade is parallel, or approximatelykparallel,A with the runs of the strop, the opposite extremities of thetwo spindles beingl provided with crank arms connected in 'o erativerelation whereby as the o ne spindle 1s actuated the other issimultaneously operated, substantially as described.

5. In a razor Sharpener, the combination ,'.with a casing, of ablade-holding spindle journaled in the casing, the blade being doubleedged and protruding through slots formed in the said spindle, means fornormally maintaining the blade-holding spindle in a predeterminedposition, another spindle journaled in the casing, a flexible stropengaging the last named spindle, an operative connection between the twospindles, and a guide rollerengaging the opposite runs of the sharpenlngstrop, substantially as described|.

A razor Sharpener comprising a casing, a spindle journaled in thecasing,-a stro engaging the said spindle, a hollow splndle journaled inthe casing and slotted -on opposite sides, a holder for the bladeadapted to be inserted endwise inthe hollow spindle,

the oppositeiedges of a double-edged blade protruding'through the slotsin the hollow spindle, substantially as described.

v'i'. A razor Sharpener comprising a casing, a spindle journaled in thecasing, al strop engaging said spindle, a hollow spindle also Journaledin the casing and slotted on opposite sides, a blade holder consistingof a in adapted tobe inserted endwise 1n the ollow spindle and readilyremovable therefrom in an endwise direction.

8. A razor Sharpener, comprising a casing, a spindle journaled in thecasing, a strop engaging the said spindle, a hollow spindle Journaled inthe casing and slotted on opposite sides, a holder for the blade, saidholder comprising a pin adapted to enter the hollow spindle in anendwise direction, the casin being slotted at one end to permit theintro uction of the blade-holder with the blade in place, the oppositeedges of a double-edged blade protrudingthrough the slots in the hollowspindle when the blade is inserted, substantially as described.l

. 9. A razor Sharpener, comprising a casing havin an elongated openingin one end, a spind e journaled in the caslng, a strop engaging saidspindle, and a blade-holder adapted to enter the casing in an endwisedirection with a blade in place, the bladeholder being jornaled in andreadily removable frorn the casing, and an operative conneetion betweenthe spindle and the bladeholder, whereby as the spindle is moved backand forth, the blade-holder is rotated in reverse directions to bringboth edges of the blade into en agement with the strop, substantially as(escribed.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. MEEHAN.

Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, DAISY F. HUGHES.

